St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-10-15


Although the changes wrought by
time and social progress have elevated
into responsibility many professions
anciently regarded as infamous. and
converted into mere baselcss prejudiccs
objections once by no means without
foundation. some are still honestly and
wholesomcly detested.
That Of spy, for instance. Involving
ideas Of deceit, lying and trcachery.
with which it is but too often associated.
it is at best tolerated rs . disagrecable
necessity. No man or woman likes to
be called spy, and to be regarded as
a professional spy is to be infamous all
the world over.
The purpose Of the spy is not that Of
the detective only. who is secret and
watchful. but not necessarily treacher-
Gus. A genuine spy makes it his heart
less and cruel business to win confidence
only to betray ito enjoy hospitality
AS guest that he may bring down ruin
upon his host and misery upon his fam
lily. He processes friendship to those
he is anxious to disgrace, and affection
where his only intentions are those Of
cold-blooded malignity. What could DO
more vile or base?
And yet spies Of the very worst typo
have existed in all classes OF society and
in all times. In Russia to this day there
are men and women of the highest
rank who are not ashamed TO act as
spies. secretly engaged by the chiefs Of
police. and others who do such dirty
work as amateurs merely to serve po-
litical ends. those of the government
or those of the secret assassins, called
| Nihilists.
While the Bourbons were on tho
French throne. and all through the
reigns Of Napoleon the Great anil Ma
polcon the Little. spies abounded. In
Austria they were for many years not
less abundant, and also in Italy. Nor
are these hateful posts to be found only
in their own country. They travel tu
other lands in pursuit Of their victims,
plotting and schcming to get them
within their craftily created tolls. Even
their employers regard them with sus
picion, and those they most benefit arr
often those who regard them with tht
greatest contempt and disgust. In tht
reign of Louis XVIII the Due Dccaze.
was once attacked, as head Of the Par.
isian police. by member OF the Cham
ber Of Deputies. who pointed out a
disgraceful to his department and thciI
government the vile characters he EN-
ployed as spies for detecting crimes
The Due replied, sarcsstically: ''Shov
me the honest men who will undertake
their duties and l promise to cmplo,
them T. The retort was = crusher Il
which the Deputy had no reply. TO
spies were then regarded as absolute
State necessities.
During the last French Empire 20,
could not venture even in any privat
assembly and utter safely any politica
opinion il they chanccd to be antagon
istic to the Government. and it is salt
that this policy was but a cOntinuanc
Of that adopted during the latter par
Of the reign Of King Louis Philippe
when a complete network Of espionag
surrounded every social circle and ha'
its representative in almost every home
It was said that no reunion. private o
public. composed Of mere than
certain number of people. ever too
place in Paris without the cognizanc
and surveillance IT the police. N
matter what the rank or position Of tn
giver Of feast might be. he was con-
mantled to forward a certain numbe
Of tickets to the Prefecture for guest
who were sure to arrive, courteous !
manner, fashionable in dress and ar
parently highly educated and yer
agreeable men and momcn Of tn
highest rcspcctsbility, but spies ever.
one.-Lond0D It'd Bits.